Omega Chronicles -4- Change is in the Air

Thanks to her ever reaching possibilities, Aria took care of adding days to Shepard's leave, in less than legal ways of course, but completely untraceable, as per usual. As soon as it had been possible she had arranged for the Commander to be brought back to her room, where she had been resting and healing while Aria was able to go about her business without necessarily leaving her side for too long at a time. There was no need to run Omega from any particular place, after all.

Sila, the beautiful waitress who was so fond of Shepard, was at the moment slowly massaging the human's legs, the sweet perfume of the oil she was using felt so soothing, it all was making her feel better by the minute. Sitting on her couch, Aria was watching. She stood up and walked to the bed, she looked down at the human, whose upper body was propped up in an almost sitting position now. She dismissed the young masseuse.

"You can go Sila, come back later with some food."

After she heard her step outside, the Asari looked at the soldier for a moment, then she closed her eyes and in a blink was inside her mind. Shepard was surprised by the sudden invasion and instinctively a barrier formed around Aria, before she consciously let it dissipate. Aria exited her mind just as quickly as she had entered it.

"Shepard, your mind is extraordinary, for a human." The Queen seemed lost in thought for a moment. "I may live to regret this, but I want to teach you something. It may come in handy some day in your life." She swiftly formed another meld, this time the Commander was ready for it and Aria was welcomed by a wave of warmth instead.

'You already have an instinct to protect yourself, this barrier that comes up when you are not aware or ready when I enter your mind is strong. And you can make it stronger. Raise it. Now.'

Shepard did not want to, but she found that yes, she could in fact materialize the barrier at will, she concentrated and there it was.

'Good. Now I will try to take it down, or to pass through it. Do not let me, no matter what.'

The soldier steeled herself for whatever the Asari was going to throw at her. The first hit touched her mental barrier lightly, like a knock on a door. She shrugged it off effortlessly. The second wave was different, instead of being concentrated on just one point, it spread all around, prodding for a weak spot, like a sound wave, like an expanding sphere, pushing steadily. She allowed it some give and bounced it back. She felt herself getting tired. Aria felt it too and chose to unleash. The third wave hit the human like a bomb. The pain staggered her and she automatically reacted by pushing down on the energy that was hurting her, trying to crush it, hard. Aria moaned in pain for the fraction of a second and Shepard recoiled immediately, letting go. The meld faded.

Aria's face had an expression of surprise and pride pasted on it. "That was good. That's enough for the first lesson."

"No. I want to learn more."

"You are getting tired. You should rest."

"Because if I ever meet an Asari that wants to mind-rape me they will not take advantage of a debilitated state I might be in?"

The Queen pondered the implication for a moment. She knew that there were Asari out there that were… less than honest. She was probably the most powerful of them after all. Shepard was right. They would take advantage of any possibility. She had embarked in this, she might as well do the best job she could. And she had to admit that her student was proving to be nothing less than exceptional.

"Very well. Don't come crying into my arms like a fucking toddler if you get hurt."

As the days had gone by, the Commander had been getting steadily stronger, both in body and mind. Aria had been teaching her countless things about mind melds and she had proven to be quite apt at absorbing it all like a sponge.

The Queen was sitting at the feet of the bed, as she quickly entered the human's mind.

'I know you can materialize feelings in the form of waves, colours even. I know you can move around me and interact with me in such a way. Today I want you to choose a definite shape for yourself instead.'

Shepard concentrated, a swirl of blue started floating in her mind. She put more effort into it and slowly but surely a form took shape. In a few seconds more, Aria was looking at a copy of herself hovering in the Commander's mind. A sure smirk of amusement graced her lips as she herself materialized her own form too.

'Smartass.'

'You know what they say: imitation is the highest form of flattery.' Shepard smirked right back.

'Flattering as it may be, change shape. If I want to see myself I have plenty of mirrors.'

The human concentrated again and tried to shift into herself. It took her a few more seconds and a lot of energy.

'That's too slow. Let it fade and do it again.'

And so she did. Over and over again until it became as fast as it could possibly be, the Asari overseeing her efforts and correcting her every time she made a mistake. Within the hour Shepard was not only able to materialize her own self but also to move about, in her mind she was actually feeling her form, and she had learned how to impose on her shape the same sensory sensitivity as if it were a real body. Well, she was still working on the details, but the core of the process was perfectly clear to her. Aria taught her how to materialize any range of things. It was exhilarating to the Commander to learn all this, she couldn't get enough, and if it hadn't been for the sheer exhaustion that took over her after the long sessions, she would have never stopped.

Shepard decided to try something of her own volition, she put her mind to the task, she let herself expand as much as she could and slowly but surely a meadow of green grass appeared under their feet. Aria looked around and was utterly surprised at the display of power that was required for such a feat, pleasantly acknowledging how far the human had already managed to come in such a short time.

'Cute. What's the use of it, though? You shouldn't waste your energy to imagine things you have no use for.'

Suddenly, a grin appeared on the soldier's face. In a swift movement, she grappled the Asari and took her down to the ground, making them roll on the soft grass, laughing. 'That's what it's for!'

Aria was stunned by the unexpected action and as she found herself rolling she couldn't believe the soldier had managed to catch her unaware. She was furious for just the fraction of a second, before she felt, as clear and as warm as the light of day, the joy in the Commander's consciousness. It was so damn contagious that a smile opened on her face and a wave of happiness managed to escape her before she could stop it.

Their mental bodies stopped rolling, the human laying on top of the Queen. Not having mastered how to visualize clothes yet, Shepard's consciousness was comfortably naked, and so was the Asari, since she saw no need to use any more of her energy than she strictly had to, and she was certainly not encumbered by stupid notions of prudeness.

Shepard was ecstatic to discover that it felt just like as if their real bodies were connected in that embrace. Her eyes locked on the Queen's, a sweet smile opened on her features. In what was the most natural motion, she lowered her face and brushed her lips against Aria's. A multicoloured spark flew and as their mouths opened to deepen the kiss she felt a warmth spreading through her, enveloping them.

The Asari couldn't believe what was happening. This puny human had managed to take control of the meld and now she had found herself rolling on a fucking meadow and then they had stopped and that smile on Shepard's face was so open, so inviting, and then… as the soldier's lips captured hers in this mental kiss, she couldn't help revelling in the heavenly sensations her mind was experiencing. She opened her mouth and let their tongues dance in deep, sensual caresses, a warmth slowly enveloping her as Shepard wedged a thigh between her legs in a smooth movement. She did not feel overpowered, which is what she was expecting. No. What she felt instead was a tremendous need to melt into the human, to amalgamate with her, to let the boundaries disappear and truly be one.

The Commander's lips left hers only to move to her neck, suddenly she was ravishing her throat, her sensitive tendrils, in hot, wet kisses, licking them slowly, gently grazing them with her teeth, a twister of arousal sliding between them, around them. Shepard swore she could actually taste Aria, smell her, as if she were present in flesh and blood. The sensation was mind blowing and delicious, she wanted more.

The Asari quickly assessed the situation with whatever logical mind was left in her and decided that yes, she wanted this just as much as she could feel the Commander wanting it, wanting her. She let go of any restraint and let out a wave of pure lust that hit the human like a shower of lava. This was intoxicating. The Queen's hands came up to grasp her lover's hair possessively, pressing her face on her own neck, in a movement that betrayed an insatiable desire.

As she felt Aria's fingers in her hair, Shepard thought she would lose it right then and there, the gesture so hot, so demanding, she bit down on her throat, hard, knowing perfectly well that there would be no pain, only pleasure, because she herself willed it so. She actually heard the Asari gasp sharply. In the blink of an eye the Queen flipped them over and opened Shepard's lips with her own in a hot, breathless kiss. Taking the lead, she spread her legs and straddled the soldier, their groins grinding against each other, impossibly excited, so hungry. The Commander snaked a hand between their bodies and grabbed the Asari's sex, caressing it roughly, delighted to feel a moisture there, welcoming her. Her fingers opened Aria's folds and smoothly entered her as she threw her head back. 'Oh, fuck! Yes!' As she started rocking against Shepard's hand, feeling the delicious sensations of her fingers moving inside of her, brushing her inner walls in long strokes, she lowered her head back against the human's neck, biting her shoulder, whispering hotly in her ear: 'You feel so good. Don't you dare stop. More.' The soldier thrust deeply inside of her, her own hips coming up to meet Aria's to heighten the penetration, an arm around her waist to press her down with every push. 'Like that. Yes.' Lifting herself up slightly, the Asari put her arms around the Commander's shoulders, hanging on to her as she felt her pleasure build up, unstoppable. Shepard was mesmerized, her eyes shifting from Aria's face to what she was doing to her between her legs, she was now completely insane with desire, she could feel the shadow of her hand's movements inside herself, their individual consciousnesses now fused into one, her head was spinning, she could feel the Asari's inner muscles getting tighter around her fingers as she was sliding in and out of that delicious, soft hotness.

Their orgasm caught them unprepared. It burst like an erupting volcano, Aria's sex pulsating so intensely, so tightly, Shepard let out a cry of release that transformed into a wave of pure pleasure, echoing and bouncing between them, out of control, magnified by each other's blind lust for what seemed like an eternity.

Aria let herself collapse on Shepard, savouring the aftershocks that did not seem to want to quiet down, feeling that the same was happening for the human. Even if they obviously did not need to breathe, they were panting nonetheless. The soldier let her fingers slide out of the Asari's body, slowly, gently, and encircled her in an embrace that was pure love. She did not care if it was welcome or not. That was what she wanted to give, and she gave it. Completely.

Her face buried in Shepard's neck, still high on the intensity of their orgasm, Aria was suddenly encased in love. Pure and simple. She did not want to. She fought against it for a second that felt like forever. Then she realized how futile it was. And how deeply the human felt it. And just like that, without speaking a word, she returned it. Completely.

The Asari started to slowly retreat from the meld. Shepard used all of her concentration, focused all of herself, took control and literally grabbed Aria's consciousness, not letting her go. Her mental body rolled her forcefully on her back, her hands coming up to catch her wrists, holding her arms above her head on the grass, her hips between the Queen's, pinning her down. Their eyes locked.

'I don't think so. I am not nearly done with you, you sublime creature.'

Aria was completely stunned. How the fuck did this happen? How dare this human treat her this way? Was she suicidal? She found herself looking deeply into those dark eyes, a river of passion flowing untamed in their depths and all of a sudden her anger was gone, replaced by a heat that felt like it was consuming her from the inside. Her hips rocked against the Commander before she could stop them, and as the soldier's mouth closed on hers she heard herself.

'Shepard. You will pay for this.'

The human's irreverence was unbearably annoying and incredibly arousing at the same time. 'I'm counting on it.'

The soldier's lips started travelling down her throat, to her breasts, sucking on her nipples, making love to them with her hot tongue, sending waves of desire that were swallowing the Asari like a whirlpool. Shepard did not stop there. Her hands still locked around Aria's wrists, she dragged her arms down to her sides and pinned them there, as her own body was sliding down on blue skin, basking in its divinely smooth texture, every inch of her singing in pure delight. Her face brushed against the Queen's lean abdomen and finally settled between her legs. The Commander admired the beauty of Aria's most intimate part for a second before kissing it just like she did her mouth. Slowly, passionately, her tongue drawing lazy patterns on it, then it opened her purple folds and dipped inside her, devouring her in sensual motions.

Aria was blown away. Her mind barely able to contain itself, she couldn't believe how her consciousness was responding to this, in total abandonment. As she felt Shepard's mouth lavishing her so wantonly, her hands pinned, completely open to the human and at her mercy, she needed a way to vent the impossible lust that was consuming her. Black clouds formed above them, powerful lightnings shining across them, ear deafening thunders cracked and a hot rain came down on their naked bodies. She found herself screaming. 'Shepard! Fuck! Yes! Yes!' Her hips rose from the grass over and over again, meeting the human's mouth, her tongue moving up to concentrate on her most sensitive ridge, pressing on it, massaging it mercilessly, bringing the Asari to the brink and keeping her there, like she had done to the soldier on their first meeting, until the ache to come was unbearable, blinding . Shepard then spoke, her voice steady, deep, commanding. 'Now. Come for me, my Queen.' With an insane mixture of rage and burning desire, in one last push, Aria arched her back and her orgasm hit them both like a crashing wave, the rain beating on them as hard as a torrential flood, Shepard's release erupting at the same time, they rode it together, as one, spasm after spasm, in a voluptuous frenzy.

It left them completely spent. The small aftershocks were pleasantly rippling through them as the human finally let go of Aria's wrists, in a sensual movement she slid back on top of the Asari and encircled her in her arms, burying her face in the Queen's neck, nuzzling her. She whispered in her ear.

'You are sublime. And I do love you.'

Aria's arms came up to hold her so softly, so warmly. For a few seconds everything was perfectly still. Then in the blink of an eye the Asari flipped her over effortlessly, took her wrists and pinned them above her head, mirroring what she had done earlier. A look of defiance sparked deep inside the Queen's eyes.

'If you pull a stunt like that again, Commander…'

Shepard's eyes were the embodiment of arrogance. 'You will love it just as much.' A half grin was pasted on her face with the intention of going nowhere.

Aria found herself in an angry awe for a moment. Shepard was right after all. There was no one like her. No one that the old Asari had ever met in the many centuries she had been alive anyway. But she was certainly not ready to make this impossibly huge ego of hers even bigger.

'Maybe. In the meantime I will be thinking of a proper way to punish you, as I have promised. Make no mistake.'

'I expect nothing less. I will be looking forward to it.'

This time, as Shepard felt Aria retreating from the meld she did not put up any resistance. She was truly exhausted, but damn, it had been worth it. Her body was covered in a fine sweat. Her eyes were staring into the Asari's as she was still sitting at the feet of the bed.

The Queen majestically rose to her feet. She purposefully walked along the side of the bed in slow steps, an impossibly sexy sway in her hips, her eyes never leaving the human's. Once she reached her, in a quick movement she raised her hand and slapped her across the face, with gusto. Shepard didn't flinch. "That's for the mind-rape." Aria sat by her side, took her face in her hands and opened her lips in a deep, wet kiss, taking her sweet time devouring the Commander. She broke the kiss abruptly and whispered on her lips. "That's for the best orgasm I've had in centuries." She let go of her face, letting her fingers slide away from the soldier. She got up and walked out of the room just as Sila was coming in, bringing a tray of hot food.

As usual, the beautiful dancer set everything down, she put a napkin around Shepard's neck and she started feeding her as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The Commander was observing her intently, trying to understand if she really enjoyed this line of work or if she was just 'passing by' and aiming for something completely different. Sila noticed that she was the centre of the attention of the human and slightly blushed. Then she smiled at the soldier and asked a question that had been in her mind for a while.

"Commander, if you don't mind me asking: are you in love with Aria?"

Wow. Asari really didn't have problems overstepping the boundaries of someone's privacy, Shepard thought. She stared at Sila for a few moments, weighing her options, before replying.

"Madly."

Sila chuckled before feeding another bite to the human.

"That would be so romantic if only she wasn't… you know… well… Aria."

It was the Commander's turn to smile. "I wouldn't have fallen in love hadn't she been… you know... well… Aria."

"I guess not. It is too bad I'm not your type. I find you quite irresistible."

"You flatter me. And you should keep that to yourself, if you want to keep your job. I'm sure you know Omega's only rule by now."

"All too well. Not to worry." Her smile lit up the room.

She was really -that- beautiful and Shepard couldn't help but giving her a genuine smile. When she was done feeding her, she gathered the empty dishes and the cutlery and exited the private room, leaving the soldier to her musings. And she had a lot to think about today. Her mind raced back to what had happened during that last meld and a satisfied grin appeared on her face. She crossed her arms behind her head and reminisced every single second of it.

Commander Shepard, N7 Graduate, proud Marine of the Systems Alliance, couldn't believe she was finally up and about. Her uniform a comfortable second skin that she hadn't worn in too long a time, she was strolling casually through Afterlife. She stopped at a bar for a quick drink, and as her eyes were panning the club, she spotted Sila dancing on a platform. She walked over to her and motioned with her head to follow her to the dance floor. The Asari dancer smiled and complied. Aria's orders had been perfectly clear since the first time she and the human had met: whatever Shepard wanted, Shepard got.

As they reached a dim corner of the dance floor, they started dancing together in sexy movements, flowing gracefully around one another, bodies entwined, following the heady rhythm of the loud music. Shepard was so damn happy she could finally move, she never wanted to stop. She had been bed ridden way too long for her taste, and her restless spirit was now demanding vengeance: what better way to get back in shape than dancing? And Sila was one Hell of a great dancer. No wonder Aria always asked for her, for anything she needed. The young Asari was pure poetry in motion and a pleasure to behold. The Commander was enjoying herself immensely, her body swaying and lightly brushing against Sila's, one arm casually swung around her narrow waist, they were perfectly in tune. Heads started turning to look at them as they danced in unison, not missing a step.

Shepard's comm got her attention, and she brought her hand to her ear. Aria's voice came through.

"If you're done trying to seduce my best dancer, I want you to come up. There's someone here dying to make your acquaintance."

Shepard grinned. She already had a suspicion that Aria would be the jealous type. She kissed Sila on the cheek, thanked her for the dance and walked away. She quickly made her way up the stairs, Anto nodding at her as she passed him by without so much as slowing down. As she climbed the last few steps she noticed an Asari kneeling on the floor in front of Aria's couch, hands tied behind her back. She was donning the uniform of the Eclipse, a mercenary group famed for their ruthlessness and for having among them a few of the best Asari commandos around. The soldier was a bit taken aback, she knew that the Eclipse and Aria had a solid deal going on, so why was one of them in such trouble? She kept silent, waiting for the Queen to speak.

"Commander, this is Alitha. She is here today because she was planning to overthrow her direct superior, who is a good business partner of mine. She is scheduled to be executed later, but since her superior, who shall remain unnamed for now, owes me a couple of favours, here she is."

The old Asari got up from the couch and approached Shepard. "Your gun."

The Commander handed it over in a smooth gesture, no questions asked. Aria pointed it at the head of the kneeling Eclipse warrior and pressed it to her crest. "Meld with the human."

Alitha had a very confused look on her face. "Wh… What?"

"Don't. Make me. Repeat myself." Aria pushed her head with the gun, hard.

"All right. All right." The Eclipse's eyes turned black.

Shepard felt this strange presence and immediately her barrier came up around her. She could feel the young Asari being more and more confused, her consciousness prodding around, trying to understand what was going on. The soldier heard Aria's voice loud and clear. "Crush her."

Shepard's barrier started pushing down on Alitha's mind, and she nearly panicked. Then she finally remembered her training and fought back, as hard as she could. She tried breaking the human's hold in every which way possible, but every attack was bounced back, absorbed, or rendered null in a seemingly effortless fashion. The young Asari was flabbergasted, she didn't know what to do, her repertoire was coming quickly to an end as the soldier was revelling in this dizzying power trip.

As if knowing perfectly well what was going on, the Queen spoke again. "Oh please, Commander… stop playing… what's that human expression? Ah yes, 'cat and mouse'. I'd like to go eat soon. In fact, I feel ravenous." Her voice was dripping sex, and Shepard felt a familiar desire in her groin. Aria walked behind her, her hand coming up to caress her neck, to entwine in her hair, Shepard felt her hot breath on her throat and her soft lips tracing a tingling line to her ear as she whispered lasciviously. "And you know how things get when I feel ravenous." The human knew this was an attempt by Aria to distract her, testing how strong her focus really was. It was quite obvious the old Asari was enjoying this, and her enjoyment was the soldier's enjoyment. She felt Aria's arms encircling her and her teeth started grazing her neck, small bites eliciting a low sigh from deep inside her, sending shivers up her spine. One leather clad hand came up to her breast and massaged it slowly, the other travelled down to her groin and cupped her demandingly. Shepard could feel her heat building up, but instead of allowing it to distract her, she channelled that energy into the control over the meld.

In her mind she twisted around the mercenary like a boa constrictor, closing in on her consciousness mercilessly, not allowing her to breathe, to think, to move, she could feel her fear, she was feeding off it shamelessly, and it made her hold that much stronger. She felt the Eclipse scream in her mind and she threw the energy of it back to her, stunning her in a loud, long dragged echo of herself, she could see her curling up in what would be the equivalent of a foetal position, completely defeated, metaphorically rocking back and forth, her thoughts not making any sense anymore. Shepard suspected Alitha wouldn't be able to break the meld and so she did it herself, like Aria had taught her so many times. As she slipped out of the mercenary's consciousness, she saw the Queen immediately starting a meld with her herself, probably checking the human's work, just to be sure. As her eyes went quickly back to the usual, fascinating shade of blue Shepard loved so much, Aria grinned and fixed her eyes on her.

"Good job, Commander. Garka, have someone take her away."

The big Turian grabbed the Eclipse and dragged her down the stairs, her eyes seemingly lost, her steps uncertain. He was back in just a minute.

Shepard made herself comfortable on Aria's couch, just a foot from her. Now that this business was done, she just wanted to finish what the Asari had started, but she knew there would be plenty of time later. She basked in the delicious feeling of anticipation even as she began addressing a personal matter with the Queen.

"Aria, before I get to… feeding the appetite you were mentioning, there is something I'd like to discuss with you."

The Queen turned her head to look squarely into the soldier's eyes, a light shadow passing across them for an instant. "About…?"

"Me."

"Well? Stop wasting my time and go ahead, already."

"My leave is ending soon, and yes I know you have ways of extending it further, but I do not want you to. What I want to know is simple: do you need me in the Alliance? If you do, I'll go back, and you'll always have a… foothold, so to speak. If you -don't- need me in the Alliance though… I'd like to stay."

"As…?"

"Well, how about your right arm."

"I already have a 'right arm'."

"Oh, please… that overgrown Batarian?"

Anto turned his head towards them. "I can hear you, human."

"I know." Shepard's tone was blunt to say the least.

Aria seemed lost in thought for a moment. Then she spoke. "Anto, get over here. Put your rifle down." Then she looked at the soldier. "Think you can take him? Amuse me."

A lop sided grin opened on the Commander's face as she slowly got up from the couch. "All right. I'm just in the right mood for some action."

Anto lowered into a fighting stance and charged the human, bent on grabbing her by the waist to take her down and pound on her. His arms closed around air as his eyes saw her easily jump him, her arm pushing down on his back, sending him to crash against the couch. He didn't have the time to get his body up from it, that Shepard's boot kicked him hard on his ass, burying his face into the cushions for a moment. As the heavy mercenary struggled to push himself up from the soft divan, the Commander patiently waited, her arms crossed on her chest, a relaxed expression on her face.

He finally managed and he quickly turned around to fight again, this time he changed his approach though. He slowly walked to her, his huge fists up in a menacing gesture, he took a swing that the Commander swiftly dodged, her knee coming up to hit him hard on his side, where she knew the equivalent of the human liver was located. The impact sent him on his knees, his arms around his abdomen, a low cry of pain escaping his mouth. The human raised her right elbow and hit him on the back of the neck with all her strength, not caring about the amount of damage she'd do. She heard something crack, and Anto fell on his face, unconscious. Shepard had barely broken a sweat. She walked on top of him, carelessly, on her way back to her seat by Aria. The Asari had an unreadable expression on her face as she called for her other bodyguard.

"Garka, pick him up and take him to Mordin, tell the Salarian to fix him, and fast."

Garka obeyed without saying a word. A loud grunt erupted from him as he put Anto across his shoulders to transport his unconscious body to the clinic.

As soon as he was gone, Aria looked at Shepard. "It looks like I am in need of a new right arm, thanks to you."

"Then it is only chivalrous of me to offer myself, in reparation for the damage I have caused you by getting rid of your previous right hand."

The Queen debated for a long moment whether this was a wise course of action. The human was indeed an exceptional soldier and fighter, she would be infinitely useful at Aria's side. Especially now that she had also taken the time to instruct her on how to use melds to her own advantage. So yes, business-wise this could actually work, and very well. The question remained about whatever feelings they shared though. Aria knew by now perfectly well how much Shepard loved her. The only thing that needed to be dealt with was: was she ready to reciprocate it? She knew the human would never push her into anything, she knew she'd never even ask anything of her in any way, shape or form, she knew Shepard was not a petulant little thing in need of reassurance about matters of the heart. With the long vision so typical of the Asari, granted to them by their millennia long lifespan, she was trying to figure out how this thing between them could ever play out in the long run.

Shepard was waiting patiently. She knew what Aria was considering, weighing, calculating. She didn't mind. After all, she herself had had all the time in the world to come to this… proposition, while lying in bed day after day, recuperating from her near fatal wound. It was only fair that she allowed the Asari to do the same. She felt the Queen's gaze on her and raised her eyes to look into Aria's. They stared at each other for a while in perfect silence. Then the Asari spoke, softly, her voice low, just above a whisper.

"What am I going to do with you?"

"I would recommend lots of pampering… and a touch of adoration is always welcome too." Shepard stopped. She saw the look in Aria's eyes, and understood this was not the time for jokes, nor games. She turned slightly on the couch to better look at the Asari and sweetly took her hand in her own, entangling their fingers softly. "You have been inside my mind countless times. And don't fool yourself by thinking that I don't know that you have been in there even as I was unconscious or asleep. I have let you see all that I am, all that I feel, all that I long for. You know that I have no barriers with you, and therefore you know -me-. Down to the last atom. You know that I will never betray you, never get in your way, never hurt you, never go against you. You -know- these things. No games. Not right now. My life will be significantly shorter than yours. And I do not want to waste a single second of it without you."

She laid it bare. Now the ball was in Aria's court.

The Queen took her time, her eyes now watching her fingers as they were lightly brushing on the human's, she was distracted by the memory of how good her skin felt when she was caressing it without her gloves, just for the fraction of a second. She recalled she had done far crazier things in her long life. And the soldier was right. How much damage could she even cause in her short lifespan? Aria's eyes came back up to meet Shepard's. She got swayed by the intensity she found in them. Damn. She had fought so hard against falling in love with her. But then again who was she kidding, she had fallen for her the second the human had first climbed the steps to the very place where they were discussing their future now. It's just that it took her this long to finally admit it, to herself at least. Maybe. She took a decision..

"Welcome to Omega, Commander."

Aria got up and made her way down the stairs, she stopped on the first step and turned her head back.

"Well, aren't you supposed to be following me everywhere I go?"

Shepard's smile was bright as the sun as she jumped up from the couch. "Of course, my Queen." As she reached the Asari she added quickly. "I won't be a Commander anymore, though."

"I'll call you however it pleases me. At any given time. Besides, it suits you. So yes, from now on you will be -my- Commander. Is there a problem with that?"

"Can't think of one."

"Good. I like starting off on the right foot." The Queen was walking briskly through the club, headed for the main doors. "I've been invited to the execution of that Eclipse whose mind you scrambled earlier. We're heading there now."

The warehouse was dim lit, the Eclipse mercenaries were gathered in a wide circle, their leader standing proudly in the middle, Alitha kneeling next to her, seemingly unaware of what was going on, her gaze on the floor. Shepard thought to herself that the lights were on, but there was nobody home. She felt sorry for her for just a moment, before remembering that her plan was actually going to involve an attempt on Aria's life after having taken control of the group of warriors. She was standing in a relaxed posture next to the Queen of Omega, who was watching the scene unfold with just a glimpse of pleasure deep in her eyes.

The leader spoke.

"Dear sisters, we are here to right a wrong that was to be perpetrated by Alitha against me, against us. It is thanks to the ever watchful eye of Aria T'Loak that I have not found myself the victim of a coup that this scum was planning. I owe her, as I have owed her many times before. In light of that I am renewing our pledge of allegiance to her. When the time comes, the Eclipse will fight at her side, as one."

All the Asari present raised their weapons and cheered.

"So without further ado."

She put her gun to the head of Alitha. A shot rang in the still air. Her body collapsed in a pool of blue blood. More cheers. And whooping. And loud whistles. Shepard saw Aria take a few steps to get in the middle of that circle of bloodthirsty Asari. She stopped next to the body and turned around slowly, to look at every one of them, or so it seemed. Then her eyes came back to the human and she extended an elegant hand, inviting the Commander to join her. In a few long, arrogant strides she did. Aria spoke, in her sexy, sure voice. She did not even need to ask for their attention, all eyes were on her as a matter of course, and the silence was deafening.

"I accept your allegiance. One thing has changed though." Her hand motioned towards the soldier. "This is Commander Shepard. From this day on, your allegiance is to her as much as it is to me." She paused for a long moment to let her words sink in unequivocally. "You mess with her, you mess with me. You mess with me, you mess with her."

Shepard was stunned. Here the Queen of Omega was, and she had just basically introduced her as her equal to a mercenary group that was renowned, infamously so, throughout the galaxy. Without a doubt one of her most powerful allies, together with the Blue Suns and the Blood Pack. She saw them exchanging glances for a few seconds before their leader spoke again.

"So be it. From now on our allegiance lies with Commander Shepard as much as it lies with you, Aria. We accept your words."

The Eclipse voices rose as one. "SO BE IT!"

Their leader pointed at two of them. "Riza, Almele, get rid of the body. The rest of you are dismissed."

They walked away, probably headed to Afterlife to celebrate, Shepard thought. Aria got her attention. "Commander. This is Jona Sederis, the leader of the Eclipse."

The human looked at the mercenary and nodded. Jona nodded right back. Aria made to walk away as well, but Jona stopped her. "So, what is this about the human, Aria? Is she your new pet and you don't want bad things to happen to her?" There was an annoying smirk on her face. Aria turned around and in the blink of an eye the Eclipse found herself encased by a glowing stasis field, floating in mid air.

"Is this the respect you show after what I just said, Jona? I should just get rid of you and choose a smarter leader for the Eclipse myself. I'm sure many of your sisters would be delighted for the honour." Aria walked closer and glared at her. "If you call her a pet again, you know that I will come to know about it. And you'll regret it." She let the field fade and Jona fell to the floor. "I expect better judgement from you."

The Eclipse got to her feet and shot a look of pure hatred in Aria's direction. Shepard decided it was time for her to step in, if this was the role that the Queen was bestowing upon her. She quickly walked to where the merc was sitting on the floor, she put her hand around Jona's neck and lifted her up, then she kept lifting her until her feet were not touching the ground anymore.

"I don't know how it could be possible, but maybe, for some insane reason, you did not understand what Aria said. You mess with her, you mess with me. And believe me, you don't want to mess with me. I'm not nearly as patient, nor as forgiving as the Queen."

The Commander could feel the mercenary slowly suffocating. She let her stew in the distress a few moments longer, before pushing her away and letting her fall to the floor, again. This time, when her eyes came up, they showed that she had learned her lesson. Aria and Shepard turned around and walked away, their sure, arrogant steps ringing in the half empty warehouse.

Captain David Anderson couldn't believe what his eyes were reading on the screen of his private terminal. He had been waiting for Commander Shepard to join his crew as his XO, actually looking forward to finding out if the awful title of 'Butcher of Torfan' was in fact deserved or if the young officer had been mostly misunderstood. He knew she was extremely capable, her record was spotless and she seemed to have a knack for getting the job done, whatever the job. He read her letter of resignation again, his mind still not quite grasping what was going on. Her career was just beginning and it looked like she could make it far. He felt that she was throwing away the best opportunity of her life! What was he to do? He got up from his chair and started pacing around his cabin. He needed to find her and talk to her, in person. There was no way he'd let her slip away without even understanding the reasons behind her decision to leave the military. He made up his mind and contacted the personnel office on Arcturus Station.

"This is Captain Anderson. I need to find the whereabouts of Commander Shepard."

The young woman on his screen typed something on her keyboard and let him know. "Commander Shepard resigned, Sir. She is no longer in the Alliance Marines."

"I know that. What I want to know is -where- she is. Where was she the last time she logged into the Alliance network?"

The private typed some more. "It says here she got on transport to Omega. That is the last record we have of her, Sir."

"Thank you. Anderson out."

He exited his cabin and quickly made his way to the CIC. Once there he brought up the galaxy map and ordered his pilot to plot a course for the ill-famed station.

Aria was still getting used to the presence of someone else in her bed, she thoroughly enjoyed the warmth of the Commander's body of course, and it was always such a delight to be woken by the soldier when she had those nights of pure hunger that took forever to be sated. The Asari was often left surprised by how wonderfully skilled she was. And to think that she was so young. This had been one of those nights indeed, and the Queen was now resting comfortably, half sprawled on top of the naked, sleeping body of Shepard. Her eyes were roaming on her soft, pale skin, pausing for a long moment on that scar on the left side of her chest. It was almost perfectly circular, the bullet's force having easily penetrated skin, muscle, bone. That bullet had been meant for the Asari's head, and she never forgot that. She brought up her hand and traced the scar lightly, part of her wished she could make it disappear, part of her wanted it there, needed it there, to remind herself of how deep the love of her Commander flowed for her.

Shepard stirred and her eyes fluttered open, immediately focusing on Aria's beautiful face. She could never get enough of admiring her, she found herself mesmerized by her traits, her markings, her skin, and most of all her eyes. She sometimes just wanted to stare and drown in them, like now.

"Is my Queen in need of my services… again?"

The soldier's lop sided grin had become a lovely sight for Aria, even if she'd never admit to it, of course.

"Maybe…" In a swift movement she climbed on top of the Commander, spreading the human's legs with her hips. "Or maybe I'm just in the mood for a… bite."

Shepard's legs curled up and around Aria's waist, accommodating her happily. "By all means, then. It is my pleasure to satisfy your every need."

"I bet it is."

As Aria's lips captured the human's in a soft, slow kiss, her omni tool beeped.

Shepard laughed. "Saved by the bell."

The Asari had a rather annoyed look on her face. "Whatever that might mean. This better be good." She rolled to the side and brought the device online. "Anto."

"There's someone here asking to see Shepard. Alliance brass? Says it can't wait."

She closed the communication and looked at the Commander. "You heard him. And let this be the first and last time I play your personal assistant. Make that clear to the Alliance."

"I will. He better have a very good reason to spoil my fun like this." The soldier got up and put on the clothes that the Queen had gotten for her a few days earlier, to the remark that she shouldn't be wearing her uniform anymore, unless she wanted to be called an Alliance dog behind her back at every step. Shepard couldn't care less for what people said behind her back, or to her face for that matter, but if it made Aria happy then she was all for it. The black pants were simple, tight and comfortable, similar to those of her uniform, with a couple of very handy additional pockets on the thighs. Paired with a plain, black, long sleeved top with a short V neck, she looked like a high class assassin. To top it off, Aria had given her a black leather jacket, one that actually reached the human's hips and hugged her like a second skin, with a short stiff collar and Omega's symbol on its back, in a deep, dark crimson red. Shepard had loved it the second she had seen it. She laced her military boots, which she had made clear she would never part from, and had a cup of coffee before heading to meet this supposed Alliance brass.

As she climbed the last couple of steps leading to Aria's usual business corner, she noticed a Captain sitting on the couch, his eyes actively trying -not- to look at the dancers that were there for his entertainment.

Anto was standing guard as usual. After having spent some time on a clinic bed while recuperating from a broken neck, courtesy of Shepard, the Batarian had wisely reached the conclusion that it was a good thing to grant the human her due respect. He got her attention for a moment.

"I got him a couple of dancers while he was waiting, but he doesn't seem pleased. This human is weird. And he's got a big stick up his ass."

"Noted." Shepard approached him and he got up from the couch to greet her, a hand extended to shake hers. Not wanting to start off on the wrong foot, she took it.

"Welcome to Omega, Captain…"

"Anderson."

"Oh. You would have been my CO in my next assignment. What brings you here? Anto said it couldn't wait." She sat down and made herself comfortable, perfectly at home. "Garka, send Sila up with a couple of glasses of Noverian Rum."

"Yes, Shepard." The bodyguard made his way downstairs.

"I'm not here for a drink." Anderson looked around. "And I'm not here for the dancers either. I'm here for you."

Shepard stared at him for a few moments, a serious expression on her face. "I resigned."

"I know. But I want to know why. I have read your file, you're one Hell of a soldier, Shepard. You are Alliance through and through, you enrolled as soon as you were of age, and you have sacrificed so much, and you have come so far. You are perfectly aware that there aren't many who graduate from the N7 program. I've never seen anyone with such a bright future ahead of them! What possessed you?"

"I did." Aria's voice sounded dangerously low as she was entering the dim area with her typical sensual swag and sitting down next to Shepard.

"Aria T'Loak." Anderson all but spat the name out.

Shepard did not like his tone one bit. "This is her territory, Anderson. You need to show more respect, or leave."

He went on without missing a beat. "Don't tell me you left the Alliance to work for her."

And again it was the Queen who spoke. "Shepard doesn't work for me. She works -with- me. Impeccably so, I might add. So why don't you tell her what you came to say and see how that goes."

Sila walked up the stairs with a tray of glasses, the amber liquid inside slightly swaying as she approached them, she set everything down and left. Aria nonchalantly picked a glass for her and one for the Commander, handing it to her in an elegant gesture.

Shepard spoke, clearly and with a stern note in her voice that did not leave much room for replies. "I made my choice, Captain. I'm sure there are plenty of candidates with a pedigree as good as mine, drooling for the chance to serve under you and advance their careers. You only need to pick one."

Anderson's face was a deep crimson by now, visible even under his tanned skin. "You are throwing everything away for a life of… crime and misdemeanour?!"

The Commander grinned. "You make it sound really exciting... I don't see it as throwing everything away, Anderson. In fact I feel much more… fulfilled, here. At Aria's side. She offers me things the Alliance can't even come close to."

"Dancers, alcohol, gambling, criminal activities…?" The Captain's face was a mask of disbelief.

"Your vision is narrow and superficial, Captain Anderson." Aria's eyes were positively glowing by now, she was clearly annoyed by this human's interference and by his holier-than-thou attitude.

"Is it?" He paused for a moment. "I can see there is no way of prying this brilliant young officer from your greedy hands, Aria, so I will take my leave. I hope you know what you're doing, Shepard. If you ever change your mind, you know how to contact me." He stood up and briskly walked away, a look of sadness and disappointment on his hard features.

As he disappeared down the stairs the Commander took a long sip from her glass. "That went well."

The old Asari stared at her for a while before speaking. "I wonder why the Alliance is so interested in you. As you said, they can have their pick of cannon fodder." She seemed lost in thought, her mind evaluating all that had been said, and more than that all that hadn't been said by that proud Captain.

"Maybe they miss the Butcher of Torfan." Shepard's voice had a light tone to it as she finished drinking the delicious Rum. She put the glass down and moved to sit closer to the Queen. "Now. Where were we, before being so rudely interrupted?"

Aria shook herself out of her reverie, she grinned and turned her head, then she placed a hand behind the human's neck, roughly drawing her in for a hot, slow kiss.